kicking, I think within the UK Zara (and their sister companies like Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Uterque, etc.) and Mango always have EU36 and even EU35 in some styles. Their fit is also on the smaller side (I always need to size up) but the quality is pretty iffy with most, think MD is marginally better and the Uterque ones that are marked as made in Spain.
French sizing is between half to a full size smaller than the standard EU/IT sizing, so you'll surely find plenty to choose from but it depends on budget really. Also, less easy to get to the UK without lots of shipping, maybe Sarenza or Zalando has some options from France? Yoox should also be worth looking at, usually plenty of choice in the odd sizes.
In terms of clothing care, ehm, I never iron a thing. I do have a semi-professional steamer which takes very little effort but for myself, I don't bother with proper pressing or buy clothes that need that level of care. Shirts and sheets go to a laundry service, less 'normal' here, I suppose, but once you cross over the border into Belgium and go further south it seems quite normal in larger cities at least and it's quite cheap. Similarly, the tumble dryer only ever gets used for towels and some cotton socks and undies. Everything else gets washed on delicate cycles (bras and hosiery in nets) or 30 degrees (except towels and sports gear), then hung on hangers that are then easily moved into the closet, they wrinkle a lot less too as a result. As mentioned previously I only wash when things are actually dirty, so woolens and denim can go quite long before a proper washing, the knitwear often gets a steaming now and then, though.
Quality of fabrics make a definite difference, it's where you see your investment recoup, most people focus on natural fabrics only but it's hardly a guarantee, it needs a certain weight, and different types of fabric have different specific weights. If you know what to look for it, it's not all that hard, my mother taught me from an early age so I just don't know any better but you'll see French women do it too, weighing a sleeve in their hand by just moving it up and down a bit. The end of sales racks in Paris are always full of what I call 'frugal' fabrics, odd sizes, and synthetics, they know what to avoid in that sense. Fabric weight is also why I turn my nose up a bit at Uniqlo, most of it feels to frugal to me.
I noticed the suede trench was a 100EUR less on the Spanish MD site compared to here. I think Mango is cheaper in Spain too bastardos.
Sock, et. al. WRT to the skincare article, I think that's part of the problem with it at the moment and the 'self-care/wellness' narrative. It's taking the spotlight away from the fact that skin is, in theory, a self-regulating organ, it doesn't actually need anything topically but environmental stressors do ask for protection. Daily sunscreen is a protective measure I'd recommend to everyone (as do dermatologist bodies and the WHO), not so much for the preventative anti-ageing benefits (which does have as well, as about 90% of signs of ageing are caused by the sun) but for the prevention of skin cancer and environmental stress from pollution. So in addition of the sunscreen, you just need a cleanser to take it off at night and if needed a moisturiser at its most basic. The narrative should be on prevention (namely suncscreen) from a health perspective but it gets largely overlooked in favour of the cosmetic promises that OTC skincare can rarely live up to.
When skin isn't self-sufficient you're usually in hormonal acne/rosacea/eczema/etc. territory. You will probably need additional things for that but a visit to a dermatologist/GP will likely sort that out better as these are rarely just a skin disorder, often related to internal health. This era of DIY dermatologist (I don't blame The Ordinary for this but they certainly made it much more widespread and democractic) is giving many the false idea that one can fix this themselves (reality is all you can ever do is manage it) with ten step+ routines which are more likely to mess up your skin further than help, creating sensitivities where there weren't any. It's a bit the same like the diet industry, a plethora of (mis)information distorts the sensible and cautious and as a result no one knows what's up or down anymore and everyone desperately clammors onto the next new shiny thing.
There's a huge threshold for those with genuine medical skin conditions to seek help, many are afraid to be ridiculed or dismissed (as for whatever reason this is how we like to treat those with skin issues they have no control over, eg. acne=dirty, etc.) and certain GPs do have terrible track records for this but pottering on in this self-help corner really isn't helpful for those with legitimate issues, especially under the self-care banner that's been eroded from its original meaning. For those without legitimate issues, it's vanity, nothing more and nothing less, nothing wrong with owning up to that either.